Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-01-28

General Rufus Putnam died in 1894 in the
eghtyscventh year of his life. He was buried
In the Mound Cemetery, within sight of that
handsome carthwork, erected for an unknown
purpose by an unknown race A plain monu-
mcnt has been erected to his memory, but II is
not commensurate with his prodigous achieve
mentS. What better thing could this potent
and opulcnt State do than to recognize the lofty
and disnterested labors of its founder in some
appropriate manner during our centennial
Year,
General Putnam was not brilliant man like
Burr or jefferson, but he had many of the quail
tiles which made Washington famous as q
statesman and General. He was endowed with
common sense in an unusual degree, and his
judgment was clear, swift and discriminating,
He had wonderful adaptability, and was ruler
and manager of men. He was essentially man
of action, but his action, though prompt, was
always preceded by thought. Ills integrity was
never questioned, and his whole influence was
cast on the side of right and in the interest of
PROCESS and humanity.
His personal appearance was commanding,
courtly, impressive and winning, He had the
port and address of gentleman OF the old
school, tnged with the abruptness of soldier.
man OF large and varied experience, he had
become good talker and an instructive one.
He possessed the use of his faculties till the
last and not long before he died he completed
an interesting journal, parts of which have
been published.
There was II good deal of political feeling In
those early days, and the interest in politics ex-
tended to the new Territory. AS has been said
General Putnam was made the Surveyor General
of the United States, and removed without
cause by jefferson. 1t seems that men talked
and acted then they do now, and n letter
written TO General Putnam from Boston, in 1910,
on the subject OF his removal, expresses In an
unreserved way the estimation in which Jerer-
son WAS held by his political opponents. This
letter was written by one Stephen Jones, who
signed himself, "Your old friend and humble
servant; q man who was with Putnam in the
French and Indian war" He writes: II noticed
in the public prints few years ago that T. JEFF
fersoR had honored you by removing you from
an ofllce bestowed upon you by the great and
yirtuOus Washington, the real Father OF his
Country. Your removal from office is full evil
dence of your adherence TO the principles OF
the good old Washington school, of which !
ayow myself TO be q true disciple and
the numerous removals of honest and capable
men from oflce, and in many Instances the
vacancies so made by T. Jefferson filed by him
with id rascals, has excited my wafmest in
dignatlon.
~ doubt not that Heaven, in its wrath for the
sins OF our nation, permitted him TO preside
over our nation. ] did hope that his successor
was fully convinced OF the mad, weak and fool
ish measures of his immediate predecessor and
that ho would administer the Government
with impartiality, but lind myself dlsappoint-
ed"
One OF the most perfect and beautiful speci-
mems of the mound builders work is TO be
seen ut Marietta. The ancient Notifications
there have been written about n great deal, and
they were well worth describing. The most
attractive feature that remains is the lofty con
ical mound that stands in the middle OF
square that has long been used as burying
ground. There was originally very elaborate
and remarkable series of work ut Marietta.
but they have been partially destroyed. The
best description of them says the situation was
on an elevated plain. The work consisted Of
walls and mounds Of earth, IN direct lines, IN
squares and In circles. The largest, sometimes
called the ancient town, contained forty acres,
encompassed by u wall OF earth from six To ten
feet high and twenty-five TO thirtyslx feet In
breadth at the base. On each side are three
openings at equal distance, resembling twelve
gntcwHys. on the side toward the river was
an inclosed passage formed OF two parallel
walls of earth two hundred and thirty feet dis.
tant from each other, measuring from center TO
center.
These walls az the most elevated part on tho
inside were twenty-one feet In height and forty
two in breadth at the base. They formed q
passage about three hundred and sixty feet in
length, and led by gradual descent TO the low
ground where, at the time OF their construction,
they were probably washed by the river,
The walls commenced sixty feet from the ram
parts OF the fort, and increased In elevation no
the way descended toward the river. The sur.
face Of the 1850 WAS constructed In the eenter,